Foldable stretcher



Sept. 12, 1961 Filed Dec. 16, 1958 C. D. HEDGES FOLDABLE STRETCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 12, 1961 c. D. HEDGES FOLDABLE STRETCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1958 Car/ 0. Hedges INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 2,999,251 FOLDABLE STRETCHER Carl D. Hedges, 1806 E. 3rd St., Pueblo, Colo. Filed Dec. 16, 1958, Ser. No. '780,814 3 Claims. (Cl. 5S2)' The present invention generally relates to a stretcher and more particularly to a stretcher that can be collapsed and folded into a compact condition so that it may be stored in a relatively small space 'for convenience in storing the stretcher in-restricted areas such as in ambulances and similar emergency vehicles.

An object of the present inventionris to provide a foldable stretcher in which the canvas body thereof is divided into two sections along the longitudinal center line together with a removable insert for joining the sections together whereby the stretcher may be removed from under a person carried thereon without lifting the person off the stretcher and thereby rendering the stretcher more desirable from the standpoint of an injured person resting on the stretcher since he may be removed therefrom with very little difficulty.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stretcher in which the side rails thereof are held in spaced relation by a tightener arrangement and in which the side rails are telescopic for collapsing into a relatively short length thereby enabling the stretcher to be collapsed to a very compact condition.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a foldable and collapsible structure which is simple in construction, rugged, easily collapsed and extended, easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a plan view of the stretcher of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the construction of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmental plan section illustrating the interdigitated loops on the adjacent edges of the canvas body of the stretcher;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section of one of the side rails illustrating the telescopic `construction thereof;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the tapered construction of the sections of the side rail for preventing disengagement thereof and providing a rigid joint between the sections;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 7-7 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the construction of the stretcher tightener; and

FIGURE 8 is an exploded group perspective View of the insert and channel for receiving the same.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the foldable and collapsible stretcher of the present invention which includes a pair of longitudinally extending side rails 14 and 16 each having the ends thereof terminating in hand grips 18 which may be covered with friction gripping material in which the hand grip 18 is actually inserted into the end of the tubular side rail as clearly shown in FIGURE 4.

Attached to the side rails 14 and 16 is a canvas body generally designated by the numeral 20 and including a longitudinal section 22 and a longitudinal section 24 both of which are provided with an enlarged cylindrical hein' 26 on the outer edge thereof for engagement over the side rails 14 and 16 respectively thus mounting the/see#y tions 22 and 24 on the side rails. Each of the'psections 22 and 24 is provided vwith a series of spaced loops 28 stitching the saine by a double row of stitching desgf.

nated by the numeral 32. 'Ihe canvas may be reinforced for extra support and may be constructed of 500 pounds tested strength and may be resilient to mildew.v Disposed in each of the loops 28 is a ilattened tubular reinforce# ment member 34 for receiving the insert 30V thus providing a rigidity to the loops 28 so that when the metallic strap insert 30 is inserted into the aligned loops, a. rigid interconnecting joint is provided. The end of the strap 30 is provided with a loop type handle 36 for providing a handle for manipulation of the insert 30 whereby the adjacent edges of the sections 22 and 24 may be detachably connected together.

Extending over the opposed edges of the side rails 14 and 16 are hook members 38 of holddown straps 40 which may be adjustable in length and which are provided for holding a patient on the main body panel.

For retaining the main body panel in tensioned condition, there is provided a stretcher assembly at each end of the stretcher with the tightener or stretching assembly generally designated by the numeral 42 with each tightener assembly including a first tubular member 44 having an outwardly facing U-shaped yoke 46 thereon and a second tubular member 48 telescoped into the first tubular member 44 and having an outwardly facing U- shaped yoke 50 therein. A compression coil spring 54 is disposed between the inner end of the tubular member 43 and a filler block 56 filling a portion of the tubular member 44 whereby the yokes 46 and 50 are resiliently urged outwardly and are engaged with the hand grips 18 adjacent the end of the main body panel thus retaining the main body panel in tightened or tensioned condition.

As illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, each of the side rails is constructed of a plurality of telescopic sections including sections 58, 60, 62 and 64 with the joint between each of these sections being tapered and fnictional with the joint being designated by the numeral 66 whereby the taper provides a rigid joint between the adjacent sections and prevents any possibility of buckling due to the length of the adjacent sections which are engaged when the sections are extended.

The device may be constructed of canvas or nylon material with all parts constructed to withstand 500 pounds 4tested strength and the full size stretcher is preferably 7 foot 6 inches long and 28 inches wide with the telescopic construction enabling the entire device to be installed in a carrying case which measures just over 2 feet in height. Carrying strap handles may be stitched to the outer edge of the main body panel if desired for ease in carrying the stretcher in some instances.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described and accordingly, all suitable modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Patented Sept. 12, 1961' What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A stretcher comprising an elongated main body panel of ilexible material having a hem along each edge thereof, a side rail received in each hem, said body panel being constructed of two longitudinally disposed sections having interdigitated loops on the adjacent edges, anda removable. metalv strap insert threaded through said Icons for retaining the longitudinal sections in attached rela,- ti'on thereby permitting the stretcher to be separated along its iongitudinal center line for assisting in the re movalv of an injured person from the stretcher, each loop on the longitudinal sections of the main body panel be'V ing provided with a rigid reinforcement hollow member of loop shaped conguration for receiving said strap, hand grips on the ends of theside. rails, and a tightener eitendingl between the hand grips, said tightener including a pair of telescopic sections each. having anoutwardly facing U-shaped yoke on the ends for engaging the side rails, and a spring urging 'the telescopic sections outwardly thereby spreading the side rails' apart and ltensioning the main body panel. p t2. The combination of claim 1 wherein. each of said side rails is hollow and sectional with the sections be ing telescopic in relation to each other, said sections being telescopic for providing an elongated surface contact at the juncture of the sections for providing a rigid tubular side rail when in extended relation.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein holddown straps are hooked over the side edges of the main body panel with the holddown straps being adjustable in length.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES lPATEtrrs 370,063- Judson e Sept. 20, 1887 975,996 Reed Nov. l5, 1910 1,080,577 Pascale Dec. 9, 1,913 1,205,186 Fuchs Nov. 2l, l916= 1,857,008 Adcock Y..h May 3, 1932 1,871,680 Flanagan Aug. 16, 1932 2,440,964 Y McCarty May 4, 1948 FORETGN PATENTS France Mar. 8, 193.7 

